Needle weaving loom



R. DEwAs 2,125,894

NEEDLE wEAvING Loom Fil-July 14, 193e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 #mi l Aug. 9,' 1938.

R. DEWAS NEEDLE wEAvING LooM Fired July 14,v 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STAT NEEDLE WEAVING LOOM Raymond Dewas, Amiens, France Appuuon July 14, 193s, serial No. 90.512

In France August 10, 1935 (ci. 13s-12s) 9 Claims.

- The present invention relates to improvements in needle weaving looms fed from iixed weft bobbns and has for one ofits objects to provide improved means for the guiding of the needles of' these looms, whatever may be the type and whatever may be the method of driving the' said needles, said meansbeing adapted to be employed in combination with one another, thus forming an improved guiding device, or which may be em- V' ployed separately.

These improvements consist in means of guiding the larms of the needles in their alternate passage in the shed and in means for the guiding of these arms'as well as the heels of the needles,

in the channels. y These improvements are applicable particularly in those looms in which the needles for conveying and for pulling the weit thread in the shed are of the type described and claimed in the specifica-- tions accompanying my prior U. S. patent applications Ser. No, 'i25885,`iiled May 16, 1934 (n ow Pate'ntNo. 2,072,161) and Ser. No. 19,576, led- May 3, 1935.

With regard to the improvements made in the guiding of the arms of the needles in the shed.

they consistinthe guiding of the' arms in four principal opposed directions twoby two,.utilizing for this purpose means situated on the lower part of the arm oi needles, facing the fell oi the cloth (that is to say"of the last weit thread inserted) and cooperating Vwith other means situated on the forward part oi the slay, also facing the iell of the cloth, which enables the shuttle race to be dispensed with, as well as' with they use ofthe reed as a means of guiding, thus avoiding 4the inconveniences lwhich in most cases arise from their employment.

With regard-to the improvements provided in the guiding .of the arms oi theneedles in their the means 'provided for the guiding of the arms in the shed, in combination with other similar additional guiding means which are situated on the upper'part oi the said arms, facing the reed,

these various means cooperating with the inner walls of the'channels arranged' accordingly.

- Finally, with regard to the improvements proy vided iorv-th'e'guiding'oi the heels oi the needles in their channels, these consist in employing guiding means which are similar to those employed for the guiding of the arms in the channels but which have much larger surfaces, so that they may extend over at least two opposite sides of the heel,

v The arrangement of these guiding means as a whole on the needles oiers the advantage of preventing the coming into contact of the walls of the needles, properly speaking, with other' surfaces liable to damage them...

The association of these improvements enables operation to be effected lat great speed, lubrication being dispensed with and the warp threads being preserved as much as possible.

These improvements are described hereafter and shown diagrammati'cally in the attached drawings, merely as examples of the carrying out of the invention which are by no means limiting.

Fig. 14 is a plan view from above of one arm of the needle with its heel, arranged with a view to their guiding in accordance with 'the invention, the head of the needle not being shown, because this head, which isattached to the end of the arm, may be oi any known type;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation seen from the tell oi thecloth; 'v

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the arm, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4' is a cross section of the heel-'on the line 4-4ofFig.2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, seen from the fell of the cloth, showing the arm at the end of its forward stroke in the shed, at the moment when the thread is exchanged over; this figure also showing the channel in which the heel is located and which is fitted on one end of the slay, thel sword and the reed being shown rin part.

Fig. 6- is a cross section, on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 'showing the manner in .which the guiding channels, these consist in employing certain of v guiding or the heel inl the channel;

ths means cooperating with the inner walls of th channels arranged accordingly.

of the arm .of the needles in the shed is carried out;

Figs. 1 and 8 are. fragmentary views oi details of one of the guides, shown in Fig. 6 attached to the 4fore partof the slay, facing the fell of the cloth;

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9-9 oi Fig. 5 showing the position of the arm of thel needlel and its guiding in the channeh' Fig. .10 is a crosssection taken on the line Illl0 of Fig. 5 showing the position and the Figs. 11 and 12 are'cross sections of the heel, showing two variants in the construction of the latter; Y i

Fig. 13 is a cross section of the heel and of its channel,` showing a variant in the construction of these'latter; u

The needle, the arm and the heel of which are shown in Figs. r1,-.2 and 5, vwhich in a needle loom is at the left side of the loom,`has in practice on weft thread through the shed.v

The needle situated at the right side of the loom and which also has at its end. a head which from below to above.

passes the weft thread through the shed, is formed similarly; therefore it has not been shown. Nevertheless, in accordance with the -type of the head, the sections of the meansfor the guiding of the heel and of the.` the other needle;

' According -to these gures and with regard to the more important f orm of construction (Figs. 1 to 10), I is the arm of a tubular needle, preferably nmade of light metal, and having a square cross' section.A 'Ihis metallic construction oifers the advantage, as compared with wood, of avoiding all deformation under the influence of heat and dampness.

The end I of this arm, which enters into the shed, is arranged in any suitable way to receive the head or to form the head, partially or entirely. This head may be of any type whatever and particularly of the type described in m earlier applications already referred to.

The opposite end I" of this arm, which slides in the channel, carries the heel and also its stud 2 directing the alternate rectilinear movement of the needles, when this 'is attained, for example, by picking arm and connecting rod.

With regard to the guiding of the arm I in the shed, (Figs. 5 and 6) this is carried out, in accordance with the spirit of the invention, by a longitudinal strip 3 suitably profiled, attached to the lower part o f the face I of the arm I facing the fell of the cloth and extending preferably over,l the entire length of the said arm. ,This strip is assisted in its function by the guiding elements or guides I3 which are attached to the edge of the slay facing the fell of the cloth. These guides I3, which enter into-the interior of the shed, across the lower sheet of the warp threads when the slay returns, are constructed in such a way as to ensure, without the assistance of other parts, than the strip 3, the guiding ofthe arm in the shed, in four principal directions which will be referred to hereafter, without the arm coming into contact either with the slay or with the reed.

Preferably this strip 3 has an angular cross section, mainly in order to reduce toa minimum the height ofthe guides I3 so thatand for other reasonsthey may Dass under the fabric easily when the weft is beaten up. The strip 3 is fitted in such a manner that its lower face 3d projects slightly below the lower face I4 of the arm I., for the purpose of ensuring the guiding of the armv in the shed, 'as in the channel, in a vertical direction The side face 3 of its horizontal web is intended to ensure the guiding" of the arm in the shed, as in the channel, in a horizontal direction from left to right., The upper face 3h ofthis said horizontal web is intended for the guiding of the arm in the shed, in a vertical direction from above, to below and the side face 3' is intended to guide the arm in the shed in a horizontal direction from right to left.

'I'he guides I 3 'are arranged, at determined intervals and in suitable number, along the length of the slay 5, between. the channels '8 and attached, by bolts or otherwise, on the edge ofthe slay facing the fell` of the cloth, parallel to the teeth or dents II of the reed, the lower baulk I2 of which is held in the angle formed by the upper web and the horizontal web of the T-iron 5 forming the slay Without` a shuttle`race.

'I'hese guides I3 are constituted of lugs, of metal ann, may vary from those of its end, the head (not shown) which passes the or other material, the upper ends 'of which are aligned on the passage, in the shed, of the strip 3 of the arms I of the needles, and at the greatest possible distance from the reed blades. 'I'his latter characteristic affords the very great advantage of preserving to a considerable degree the warp threads which come 'in contact with the said guides, a's well as the reed blades between which these threads are drawn in.

' lIn order to ensure, on four sides and in accordance with the four principal directions, the guiding of the arms i in the shed by means of the guides I3 in combination with the strip 3, the upper ends ofthe guides I3 are cut out on the front part facing the arms I into the form of` a hook, the inner profile of which corresponds partially to the profile of the strip 3 and consequently has faces I3?, I3", I 3d and I3", so that the strip-3, when the needle advances into the shed, penetrates successively and slides in the hooks of the said guidesi I3, being guided by the corresponding faces 3b, 3, 3d and 3 on four sides, namely in ver- ,tical opposite directions from above to below and from below to above, and laterally in the directions opposite the side of the fell of the cloth and of the side of the reed. 'Ihe hooks might be arranged or combined with one another to conipensate for eventual wear, as will be understoodv strain of the assembly. For this reason, it is i possible to drive the needles at a high speed and l with great frequency.'

with a view to the guiding of the arm l in the channel 3, an additional strip 3 is mounted on and attached along the upper part of the face I l of the arm I, facing the reed I I; it is mounted in such a way that its upper face 3b projects slightly above the upper face Ib of the arm I,'so as to eifect guiding in the channel in avertical direction from above to below, lateral guiding in a direction from right to left being ensured by the face I" of this strip 3. The guiding in the opposite lateral direction from left to right and guiding in a .vertical direction from below'to above are ensured by the faces 3 and 3l of the strip 3 for the guiding in the shed, this strip 3 being diagonally opposite to the strip 3', so that by these verysimple means the guiding is ensured rigorously.

The strips 3 and 3' v do not extendover the' whole height of the arm chiefly for to obtain very great lightness and at the same time among other `reasons, to allow, in the case of the application to needles working in accordance .with the arrangements described in myearlier applications already referred to, of the sectionalizing of the face I of the tube of the pulling needle with a view to the passage of the blade ensuring the release of the weft thread.

With a view to the guiding of the heel of the needle in the channel 8, the end I of the needle is provided, in this form of construction, on two of its opposite faces Illand I, with strips 4,

strips 3' and 3, the thickness of each Aolf these strips 4 being the same as that of the strip 3 or 3' corresponding to it.

'I'he strips 4, as a-result of the conception of the assembly, are much reduced in length which contributes to the lightening of the needle and the reduction ofthe total space occupied by the loom.

The strips 3, 3'. and 4 can be. made of any other suitable material, for instance of vulcanized libre.

With regard to the channel arranged at each end of the slay 5,-it consists of a box 8 of castiron or other material, the side of which facing the f ell of the cloth has a slot 9 throughout the whole of its length for the passage of the driving stud 2, said slot allowing of the needle` I being withdrawn from the rear when this is required.

The mounting of the channel V8, `at least when feeding is effected with a single weft thread, is carried out in such a way that the end which is directed towards the shed reaches (when a fabric is .woven according the maximum width for which the loom is designed) the immediate neighborhood of the temples, in order to be able.

to reduce to the minimum the total lengthof the needle and consequently its weight and 'at the same time the whole space occupied by the loom.

This involves, at the conclusion of the stroke beyond the shed, the re-entry of the head for a certain distance into the interior of the channel; and when the conveying needles are arranged to work according to the process described in my earlier applications already referred to, this involves,'for

the purpose of feeding the conveying needle, the

arrangement in the side 'ofthe channel 8 which faces the reed, at its end which is directed towards the shed, of a slot 8 extending for a certain length and intended for the passageof the weft thread coming from the bobbin.

. The attachment of the channel 8 on the T-iron 5 which vforms the slay is ensured by means of screws passing through the middle horizontal web,

of the said T-iron 5 and entering the bosses I0 forming projections on the lower face of the channel 8.

The interior of the channel 8 is hollowed out in accordance with a rectangular section, for ex 4d of the strip 4 of the heel on the side of the reed; and the faces 4b, 4 and 4d ofthe strip 4 of `the heel on the side of the feu'of the cloth, the

guiding of the heel in the channel is thus. carried out in four principal directions.

By the combination of the same'inner faces of the channel 8 with the faces 3e' and 3b' of the supplementary strip -3' and with the faces 39 and 3d of thestripl 3, the guiding of the arm I in the channel 8 is carried out in the same way also on four sides.

As a result of the lguiding in the four principal opposed directions which'4 ls ensured, as shown Y labove, of the arm of the needle when it is in the shed and in the channel; as a result also of the shape and of the arrangement of theheel and of the dimensions of the surfaces in contact with the saidchannel, the whole in collaboration with great lightness of the needle, the guiding of the heel in the channel so that it may slide easily may be ensured; which, whilst increasing the speed, enables the lubrication of the channel to ences resulting therefrom.

Further, as the result of this same guiding of the heel and of the arm through the whole length of the channel, it will be appreciated that the, needle, when in the'channel, can stand up, without strain, to the various reactions due, among others, to the beating up of the weft.

. The strips 4 on the heel may cover all the faces of the end I" of the arm I entirelyor partially.

Fig. 11 shows a method of covering the faces I and I of vthe heel totally and the faces Ib and Id of the heel partially.-

Fig. 12 shows a method of covering the faces I, Ib, I c and Id ofthe heel totally by a sheath 4.

Fig. 13 shows a method of covering the faces I, Ib, Ic and Id ofthe end I" of the needlel forming the heel totally by means of the four strips 4,

the `inner profile of the channel 8v conforming' closely to the outer profile of the strips. When a tube with sharp angles is employed, the projecting angles of this channel are removed and` In certain cases' the-reed may share in .the t.

guiding of the arm in the shed. For this purpose -the profile of the hooks of the guides I3 is altered in such a way as.to guide the strip on the faces 3b, 3e and 3l only, that is to say in vertical directions from above to below, lateral from left to right and'vertical from below to above, whilst lateral guiding from right to left is ensured by the sliding of the face 3? of the strip 3' against the reed, the latter, for this purpose,- being situated in the prolongation of the v inner vertical face 8*EL of the channel.

In other cases a shuttle race may be employed for guiding the arm inthe shed, from below to above, making use of the reed for guiding from iight to left, or again the part ofthe hooks acting upon the ,face 3 of the strip 3 may be employed. The shuttle 'race is then notched at the location of the guides I3 to allow of theirbe in'g mounted. A It is to be understood that,- without departing.

`from the spirit ofthe invention, alterations, im-

provements or vadditions may be introduced and the employment of equivalentmeans may also be considered.

For example, the section of the strips is not invariable. and these may have other shapes or another'number of facesthe hooks of the guides as `well as the channels having corresponding 'profiles so as to ensure guiding on another number of faces or in another number of directions. In the same way the strips of the heel and of the arm need n ot go beyond the levels -ofthe tube,

for example if the channel 8 is given the section shown in Fig. 13.

Similarly the 'strips on the arni and on the heel may be made in a single piece, of fibre or ofA moulded materiaL'for example. Also when they are made of moulded material, for example with a basis of syntheticresin, the arm itselfland its strips and also the head, may be made in a single piece andthe arm may share inthe sliding4 of the faces of the (channel, thus increasing the already considerable contact'surface. The surfaces which come into contact with the guides may also be covered with vulcanized fibre or with other resistant material.

Further the slot 9 and the stud 2 may be on another face of the channel, for example, if the drive of the needle were carried out by setting the stud 2 directly into motion, by means of a long stroke grooved cam arranged near the channel.

Finally these improvements will also be applicable to looms in which there are several pairs of needles bound by their heels.

I claim:

1. A weft inserting mechanism for looms, comprising the combination with a slay and a shedforming mechanism, of a needle element including a shed penetrating portion and a heel portion, a guide channel connected to said. slay at one side thereof and positioned adjacent the side of the shed where said shed penetrating portion enters, means carried b`y said yheel portion for engaging said guide channel to guide said heel portion to prevent lateral and vertical movement, a longitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and facing the fell of the cloth and a plurality of spaced guide members mounted at intervals on said slay engaging said rib during the penetrating movement, said rib and said guide members being so .constructed that said shed penetratins portion will be guided to prevent lateral and vertical movement, and means for movlng the needlethrough theshed.

2.- A weftinserting mechanism for looms, comprising the combination with a slay and a shediormingmechanism, of a needle element including a shed`penetrating portiona'nd a heel portion,

i a guide channel connected to said slayat one side tudinal L-shaped rib carried by said penetrating portion,- a plurality oivspaced guide members mounted on said slay at intervals, said guide members including means engaging said L- shaped rib duringthe penetrating, movement to guide said shed penetrating-portion to prevent lateral and vertical movemen'tand permit penetration `thereof into the shed and means for moving the needle through the shed.

' 3. A weft inserting mechanism for looms, -comprising the combination with a slay and a shedforming mechanism, of a needle element including a shed-penetrating portion and a heel portion a guide channel connected to said slay at one side thereof' and positioned. adjacent the .side of the shed where s aidshcd penetrating portion enters, heel portion for engaging said giudewchannel-to guldesaid heel portion to prevent lateral and' vertical movement, a longitudinal L-sliapedl rib carried by said penetrating portion, a plurality of spaced guide members mounted on said slay at intervals, said guide members including a pair of fingers engaging said rib during the penetratingmovement to guide said shed penetrating portion.. to prevent lateral and vertical movement and permitV penetration into the' shed, and means for moving the 4needle through theshed.`

4. A weftinserting mechanism for looms, comprising the combination witha slay and a shedforming mechanism, of a needle element having a substantially rectangular cross section and including a shed penetrating portion and a heel portion, a guide channel connected to said slay at one end thereof and positioned adjacent the `side of the shed where said shed penetrating portion enters, means carried by said heel por- .'tion for engaging said guide channel to guide said heel portion to prevent lateral and verticalmovement, an L-shaped longitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and extending along the side facing the fell of the cloth to be woven and Yprotruding slightly belowthe lower surface of said penetrating portion, a plurality of spaced guidemembers mounted on said slay at intervals, said guide members including means engaging said L-shaped rib during the penetrating movement to guide said shed penetratingportion to prevent lateral and vertical movement and permit penetration thereof into the shed, means for moving the needlel through the shed.

5. A weft-inserting mechanism v for looms, comprising the combination with a slay and a shed-forming mechanism, of a needle element having a substantially rectangular cross-section and including 'a shed penetrating portion and a heel portion, a guide channel connected to said slay at one end thereof ad positioned adjacent the side of the shed where said shed penetrating portion enters, means carried by said heelportion for engaging said guide channel to guide said heel portion tov-prevent lateral and vertical movement, an L-shapedlongitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and extending along theside facing the fell of the cloth to be wovenand protruding slightly below the lower surface of said penetrating portion, a plurality of spaced guide members mounted on said slay at intervals, said guide members including means engaging said l.-sha'ped rib during the penetrating movement V`to guide said shed penetrating portion to prevent lateral and vertical movementand permit penetration thereof into the shed, a second longitudinal rib carriedvby said shed penetrating portion and mounted subtinually and evenly guided to preventllateral and vertical movement whileit is in the guide channel, and means for moving the needle through the shed.

6. A weft inserting mechanism 'for looms, comprising the combination with a slay and a shed-forming mechanism, oi' a needle element havingvaI substantially rectangular cross section and including a shed pf'anetrating portion and a heel portion, a guide channel connected to said slay at one end thereof and positioned adjacent the side of the shed where said shed penetrating portion enters, meanscarried by said heel portion for engaging said guide channel to guide said heel portion to prevent lateral and vertical movement, an L-shaped longitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and extending alongthe side facing the fell of the cloth to be woven and protruding slightly below the lower surface of said penetratingportion, a plurality of spaced guide members mounted on said slay at intervals, said guide members including means engaging said L-shaped rib during the penetrating movement to guide said shed penetrating portion to prevent lateral and vertical -movement and permit penetration thereof into the shed, a second longitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and mounted substantlally diagonally opposite to said rst mentioned rib and protruding slightly above the upper surtace of said shed penetrating portion, said ribs being constructedto engagel said guide channel when the shed penetrating portion is inserted into and withdrawn from the shed whereby said shed penetrating portion will be continually and evenly guided to prevent lateral and vertical movement while it is in the guide channel, means for moving the needle through the shed and slots in said guide channel one of said slotsaccommodating said last mentioned means, the other one of saidslots permitting the passage of the weft thread arriving from the bobbin and passing to the selvedge.

7. A weft inserting mechanism for looms, comprising the combination with a slay and a shed-forming mechanism, of a needle element having a substantially rectangular cross section and including a shed penetrating portion and a `heel portion, aguide channel connected t said slay at one end thereof and positioned adjacent the side of the shed Where said shed penetrating portion enters, means carried by said heel portion for engaging said guide channel to guide s aid heel portion to prevent lateral and vertical movement, said means including guide strips mounted on opposite' sides of said heel portion and. protruding slightly above and below the upper and lower surfaces of said heel portion, a longitudinal L'shaped rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and extending along the side facing the fell of the cloth to be woven and protruding slightly below the lowerl surface, a plurality of spaced guide members mounted at intervals on said slay, said guide members including means engaging said L-shaped rib during the penetrating movement to prevent lateral and vertical movement, a second longitudinal rib carried by said shed penetrating portion and mounted substantially diagonally opposite to said rst mentioned rib and protruding slightly above the upper surface of said shed penetrating portion, said ribs being constructed to engage said guide channel when the shed penetrating portion is inserted into and withdrawn from the shed, ,whereby said shed penetrating portion will be continually and Aevenly guided to prevent lateral and vertical movement while it is in the guide channel and means for moving the needle element through the shed.

8. A weft inserting mechanism according to claim 7 in which said guide strips entirely surround said heel portion.

9. A weft inserting mechanism according to claim 7 in which said guide strips only partly surround said heel portion.

RAYMOND DEWAs. 

